Skip to Main Content

Music Research - finding the score

How to locate music scores for research and performance at Trexler Library.

Overview

Trexler Library uses a modified version of the Dewey Decimal system to classify and shelve all musical scores.  This page will give you an overview of how the scores are classified and the order in which they are located on the shelves.

General outline of Dewey for Music

The numbers from 780 to 789 are assigned to "Music" in the Dewey Decimal system.

At Trexler Library, we add the prefix 'SCO' to all musical scores, and shelve them on A level (between the Government Documents and the Movies.)

Books ABOUT music (not scores) do not have the prefix, and are shelved on C level.

 

The following table shows the general outline of the scheme for Musical Scores:

Dewey Range Type of Score
SCO 780 & 781 Collected works & Anthologies
  Vocal music
SCO 782

Choral vocal music; music for mixed voices

SCO 783

Solo vocal music

  Instrumental Ensemble music
SCO 784

Orchestral music

SCO 785

Chamber music; music for small instrumental ensembles

  Solo Instrumental music
SCO 786

Keyboard, Electronic & percussion music

SCO 787

String instrument music

SCO 788

Wind instrument music

Each Dewey range above is outlined further in the tables that follow.

 

Need help?

Profile Photo
Tom Christie
(he/him)
Contact:
Tom Christie
Cataloging and Metadata Librarian; Government Documents Coordinator
484-664-3575